Exex eye Korean War epic

Pic is most expensive ever made in South Korea

SEOUL — Execs from Miramax and Sony were in Seoul Tuesday to check out the world premiere of local pic “Taegukgi,” a step toward landing the Korean War epic on American shores.

Pic will debut at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, according to production company KangJeGyu Films.

“Taegukgi,” named after South Korea’s flag, is set during the 1950-53 Korean War and portrays the crisscrossing fates of brothers forced to fight in the war.

The film is the most expensive ever made in South Korea, with a budget of 15 billion won ($12.8 million). The director is Kang Je-gyu, who opened the era of big-budget, high-grossing spectacles here with his 1999 blockbuster “Shiri.”

“Shiri” also probed inter-Korean issues, depicting the tragic love between a Northern female spy and a Southern intelligence agent, and set a box-office record at the time.

“Taegukgi” stars two of South Korea’s biggest heartthrobs as the brothers, Jang Dong-gun (“Friend”) and Won Bin. Both are key figures in the “Korean Wave” of South Korean pop culture that has stormed Asia.